Lack of Trust, Insufficient knowledge and Risk denial; an in-depth Understanding of Health worker Barriers to uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine at Iganga Hospital Eastern Uganda, and Mengo Hospital Kampala Uganda

Covid 19 Vaccine hesitancy among health workers remains a major hindrance to the governments vaccine roll out plan among health workers and other target populations in Uganda. We conducted 12 focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews with health workers (vaccinated and un vaccinated) to understand barriers to vaccine acceptance in their own perspective and context in central and eastern Uganda. Reported barriers to vaccine acceptance included: gross lack of trust, fear of side effects, risk denial and insufficient information about the vaccine amidst negative publicity about the vaccine from the internet and social media platforms. Others were health system inhibition factors and religious beliefs against the vaccine. We recommend a health work context specific information, education and dissemination strategy to create awareness, information and more knowledge about the vaccine to health workers. We also recommend a sustained government media campaign to give more information about the vaccine and also dispel the negative publicity and misinformation about the vaccine. Dialogue with health workers at all levels of care, positive peer influence, use of religious and opinion leaders as well as government ensuring accessibly to various Covid 19 vaccines and putting vaccine posts outside hospital settings to limit exposure to Covid patients could also increase uptake of the vaccine among health workers.

Alcohol and cancer: risk perception among the French population

In 2015, in France, 41 000 deaths were estimated to be attributable to alcohol consumption including 16 000 deaths from cancer. 8% of all new cancer cases were attributable to alcohol. The French National Cancer Institute and Sante Public France have conducted a study on knowledge and opinions of the French population on the risks factors attributed to cancer, including alcohol consumption. Data came from the 2015 Barometre Cancer survey, a random cross-sectional telephone survey of the French general population (n = 3771 individuals aged 15-85 years). About 88% of the respondents felt well informed about the risks of alcohol. Opinions show an important risk denial and risk relativization: e.g, 85% agreed that the principal risk with alcohol consumption are traffic accidents or violence and 75% agreed that soda and hamburgers are as bad as alcohol for the health. Those perception were higher among men, older respondents, daily drinking consumers and those of low socioeconomic status. Population’s beliefs to deny the cancer risks due to alcohol use are common in France. These results can be used to redesign public information about the risks of alcohol. Key messages Population’s beliefs to deny the cancer risks due to alcohol use are common in France. It’s necessary to adress public information about the risks of alcohol.

Overseas Filipino workers in conflict zones: narratives of Filipino nurses in Libya

This paper examines the risk perception of Filipino nurses who worked in Libya during the height of post-2011 crisis. The narratives reveal that Filipino nurses took advantage of the massive hiring campaign organized by Libya’s Ministry of Health in 2012, hoping that their migration experiences would result in economic and social rewards as they established their careers in the healthcare industry. After 2 years of adjustment to the conflict-ridden environment, they found themselves situated in another episode of civil war, once again defying the Philippine government’s mandatory repatriation program. Guided by Carretero’s (Risk-taking in unauthorised migration, 2008) thesis, we observed the mechanism of defiance that entails risk-taking as the political crisis loomed. Filipino nurses, especially those who initially refused to leave Libya, embraced an “illusion of control” that eventually reinforced an “unrealistic optimism.” These risk-minimizing strategies have successfully undermined the protective powers of the state. The paper argues that Filipino migrants in crisis zones like Libya undertake risk calculation and reduction, albeit with a tendency to commit risk denial and a false sense of empowerment and exceptionality. In the end, however, it is emphasized that these mechanisms have limitations, depending on the experiences, timing, and risk interpretation of the migrants.